Dual Boot with WinXP over Win7, without messing up

[science2002]

It is too slow in my opinion using in Lenovo WinXP mode. And other negative point is that installing WinXP Mode in Win7 will oversize the Windows7 folder even more. Just now (after the SP1) this folder alone is 18GB!!!

I remember the OS folder of Win2000 (the best Win OS in my opinion) that took just 300Mb!!

 

[gregrocker]

What is it exactly you'd like to do?

 

[science2002]

Buy a new HDD and attempt to make Winxp installation there and only then to transfer it in the new created partition of the original HDD.

The problem is that HDDs are now very expensive worldwide (compared to three months ago) due to the wheather problems in Thailand.

 

[gregrocker]

Have you tried Dual Booting XP with Win7 yet on the existing HD using option Two here? Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

If you save a Win7 backup image beforehand you can easily reimage the HD if problems arise: Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

After XP install, mark Win7 partition Active again and run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times to start Win7 back up. Partition - Mark as Active

Then install EasyBCD to Win7 to add XP Dual Boot menu.

 

[theog]

my suggestion is to install windows xp first then install windows 7

Very difficult, in my position. As I state in my first post, Lenovo does not include the CDs of Win7. So delete the pre-installed Win7 is not an option. I would also avoid to make images and then reverse them back. In my case, Lenovo has included the Recovery WinTablet SP2 CD, if I want to make a downgrade. I want to use this CD to make a dual boot.

Buy a new HDD and attempt to make Winxp installation there and only then to transfer it in the new created partition of the original HDD.

The problem is that HDDs are now very expensive worldwide (compared to three months ago) due to the wheather problems in Thailand.

Your Windows licecne is for Windows 7 Pro or Win XP Pro, not for both.

 

[science2002]

@gregrocker
Many thanks. Very interesting link! The general problem I have is that Lenovo Cds do things (create extra partitions, etc) that the Original MS Cds do not.

@theog
From what I learnt, that of the license is not an issue. I called Microsoft. Win7 allows downgrade, and then upgrade again. Since installing the two OSes in two different partitions means that you cannot run them at the same time, that's OK. By the way, the license with WinXP Mode allows to run two OSes at the same time!!

So the problem is technical not legal.